Zubiri turns over drug personalities

By Dave Achondo,
Desk Editor

AS the assumption of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte into office nears, more suspected drug pushers and users in Northern Mindanao have followed the call of the incoming administration for individuals involved in illegal drug trade to mend their ways or face the consequences.

This, after eight alleged illegal drug personalities from Bukidnon came forward to Gov. Jose Maria Zubiri Jr., who presented them to the National Bureau of Investigation regional office (NBI 10) here Monday morning.

Lawyer Angelito Magno, NBI 10 regional director, said no charges would be filed against the eight persons as they have no outstanding warrants of arrest and no illegal substances were in their possession.

However, Magno cautioned those who go back to selling illegal drugs will be arrested in no time as they are keeping the suspects’ personal data and have also forwarded these to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and other law enforcement agencies.

For his part, Zubiri said he himself pleaded with the suspects to own up to their illegal act before something drastic could happen to them.

He said he turned over the suspects to the NBI rather than the police “so their safety is guaranteed as long as they will not go back to their old ways.”

Zubiri said he urged the drug pushers in his province to come clean as the provincial government of Bukidnon has promised to extend livelihood to them and their families.

The suspects have joined hundreds of illegal drug personalities all over the country who have heeded Duterte’s call as they turned themselves over the authorities and vowed not to engage in selling or using shabu and other illegal substances.

Elsewhere, as of Sunday, it was reported that there were about 400 illegal drug pushers and users went to the Esperanza police in Sultan Kudarat.

Police Chief Insp. Bryan G. Bernardino, Esperanza town police chief, said the campaign here against illegal drugs which started last month has been successful with the illegal drug dependents coming out to register their desire to change.

“Chain is coming,” the Esperanza PNP posted on its Facebook page as it intensified the campaign against the proliferation of illegal drugs and prohibited substance.

“Chain is coming” refers to illegal drug personalities who will be subjected to arrest and “chained” (detained) as a parody to incoming President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign slogan of “Change is coming.”

In Sultan Kudarat’s 11 towns, at least 3,000 individuals, mostly males, have shown up at police stations, signed “affidavit of undertaking,” and vowed to reform.

Earlier, the Esperanza PNP arrested a father and son for possession of illegal drugs, known as “shabu,” and assorted unlicensed firearms.

Senior Supt. Raul Supiter, Sultan Kudarat police chief, has directed his men to always respect human rights of illegal drug dependents who come forward and express desire to reform.

Sultan Kudarat is one of the top 10 provinces where illegal drug trade activities have been monitored by the police and other law enforcement agencies. (With reports from PNA)